Factors Associated With Asthma Control Among Outpatients In Beijing

Background:Morbidity of asthma has increased these years and guidelines of many countries emphasize the goal of attaining and maintaining asthma control. Nowadays, level of asthma control, which is affected by multiple factors, is still insufficient. Studies on factors associated with asthma control are rarely conducted in our country. So it’s necessary to investigate factors associated with asthma control to provide reference for future intervention.Objective:To explore factors associated with asthma control among outpatients in Beijing.Methods:181adult asthmatic outpatients visiting respiratory clinic in two tertiary hospitals in Beijing were selected through convenience sampling. Asthma Control Test designed by Nathan was used to measure patients’level of asthma control. Factors associated with asthma control were detected through self-designed general information questionnaire, Knowledge of Asthma/Management Plan designed by the American CDC, self-modified asthma knowledge questionnaire, self-designed avoidance of triggers questionnaire, Home’s Medication Adherence Report Scale for Asthma, inhalation technique checklist from Zhihui Shi and self-designed disease self-monitoring questionnaire. All questionnaires were filled in by patients themselves except for the inhalation technique which was graded by the researcher according to patients’ demonstration.Results:According to the Asthma Control Test,8.3%patients were classified as completely controlled,43.1%were well controlled and48.6%were uncontrolled. Several factors were found to be associated with asthma control in the final logistic regression analysis, including elimination of cockroaches and rats at home (OR,3.56;95%CI,1.37-9.28),smoking cessation and second-hand smoke avoidance (OR,1.94;95%CI,1.03-3.68), medication adherence (OR,2.30;95%CI,1.17-4.55) and recognition of opportunities to visit the doctor (OR,2.83;95%CI,1.19-6.71).Conclusions:Level of asthma control in this study has not reached the target goal. Patients’certain behaviors of avoiding triggers (such as elimination of cockroaches and rats at home, smoking cessation and second-hand smoke avoidance), medication adherence and recognition of opportunities to visit the doctor were found to be associated with asthma control.